Mobile Communication and Civic Engagement in South Korea

1 Digital Culture and Mobile Communication, The Department2 Culture, Aesthetics, Organisations and Society, The Department3 Digital Media & Communication, Software & Systems, The Department4 University of Michigan5 University of Colorado

Subtitle:

Examining the Intersections between Public and Private Realms of Use

DOI:

10.1016/j.chb.2014.05.017

Abstract:

This study aims to extend the literature on mobile communication by demonstrating that multifaceted mobile practices work in coordination with one another to predict enhanced engagement in public life. Using a national survey of adults in South Korea, we show that informational mobile phone use to gather and discuss content about news and public affairs is positively associated with political participation while the corresponding link for relational mobile phone use to enhance strong personal tie relationships being also significant. More importantly, the findings indicate that the two mobile usage patterns interact with each other to explain increased involvement in political activities. However, analysis of the three-way interaction points to a noteworthy caveat, namely that those who are already engaged, by virtue of their perceived capacity to produce desired outcomes in politics (i.e., self-efficacy), are even more likely to obtain motivational benefits from the manifold uses of mobile telephony.

Type:

Journal article

Language:

English

Published in:

Computers in Human Behavior, 2014, Vol 38

Keywords:

Mobile communication; New media; Political participation; South Korea; East Asia